Peers back fully appointed House of Lords

Peers have backed a fully appointed House of Lords under the Government's plans for further reform of the second chamber.

Voting was 335 to 110 in what was the first of seven free votes on options for change in the Lords. Peers also rejected the option of a fully elected House by 329 votes to 106.

The decision to back a fully appointed house is a major show of support for Tony Blair who last week told the Commons that he was against a "hybrid" Upper House made up of elected and life peers. His view is shared by the Lord Irvine, the Lord Chancellor.

Five more votes on varying proportions of elected and nominated peers will be held during the afternoon.

MPs will vote at around 5pm and were widely expected to back a largely elected Lords. Such a result would put the Commons on a collision course with peers given the size of the majority in the Lords for a fully appointed House.

Related Articles

Leader of the Lords Lord Williams of Mostyn, who said he would vote for a fully elected House and the other options for elected peers down to 50 per cent, said: "Lords reform has been quite a long story.

"Today's votes in both Houses are not of course, the end of it. It is possible that today may be decisive and will determine the broad shape of the House in the future."

Lord Strathclyde, the Tory leader in the Lords, said he supported a formula in which 80 per cent of the Upper House would be elected.

He said: "I will vote for option 4 that preserves the independence of the crossbenchers and allows for election of the political house. But equally I hope the joint committee will study the practicalities of election as a whole."

Pressure for an elected House of Lords has been led in the Commons by Robin Cook and several Cabinet Ministers including Charles Clarke, the Education Secretary. They believe the second chamber of Parliament cannot be regarded as democratic if it is fully appointed.

The crucial votes on the future composition of the Lords follow recommendations from the Joint Committee of MPs and Peers on Lords reform.

The committee will debate the results and come back with further recommendations after the half-term Parliamentary recess.

Over 600 hereditary dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts and barons were ejected by Labour from the Lords in 1999.

The House is currently made up of life peers, law lords, bishops and a group of 92 hereditaries allowed to stay on temporarily until the second stage of reform is completed.